Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2025

This bill helps people who were forced into crimes because they were victims of human trafficking. It lets them ask a federal court to overturn certain non‑violent convictions and erase arrest records if the crime or alleged conduct happened because they were trafficked. If a conviction is overturned or an arrest is erased, it no longer counts under federal law, and the person is treated like the arrest or case never happened . Courts must consider evidence from anti‑trafficking service providers or clinicians, and that evidence can be enough if it’s credible and no other evidence is available . The bill also allows sentence reductions for people in prison if their offense was a direct result of being trafficked, after the court reviews safety and fairness factors .

People can file without paying fees, and filings are kept under seal to protect privacy. These protections apply to past, present, and future arrests or convictions. The court can’t be forced to change fines or restitution, but it must take any other steps needed to give full relief once a motion is granted .

Key points

• Who is affected: People who were victims of human trafficking and were arrested or convicted in federal cases, mostly for non‑violent offenses tied to their trafficking situation .
• What changes: Courts can overturn certain convictions and erase arrests; in some cases, arrests for more serious offenses can be erased if charges were dropped, reduced, or led to acquittal, and were tied to trafficking .
• Evidence: Courts must consider affidavits or sworn testimony from qualified providers; this can be sufficient if credible and other evidence isn’t available .
• Process and timing: Written motions are filed; the government can respond within 30 days, and a hearing may follow within set time limits; judges decide based on whether the trafficking directly led to the offense or arrest .
• Costs and privacy: No filing fees; records and filings are kept confidential and under seal .
• Impact: If granted, records are cleared from official files, and the person’s legal status goes back to what it was before the arrest or case; this can improve jobs, housing, and education chances .